Saturday, August 22, 2015

Cole Saint Jaimes - Heartbreaker (Heartbreaker #1)

Aidan

Surf.

Fuck.

Get high.


Sounds like the perfect day to Aidan Callahan. As second-born son to Chicago’s most influential business owner, Aidan’s life has always been about responsibility. Tradition. Toeing the goddamn line. Just do as you’re told, Aidan. Don’t make waves.

Well, screw that. Riding waves is way more fun than making them.

Hawaii is paradise on earth. Smoking hot women. Tiny bikinis. As far as Aidan’s concerned, wild horses couldn’t drag him kicking and screaming back to the windy city. Or at least that’s what he thought.

When his brother crashes his Mercedes, killing himself on impact, Aidan finds himself next in line to the Callahan fortune and all the ties that come with it.

And this time there’s no getting out of it.


Essie

A warm bed.

A steady job.

A brother who loves her.


For Essie Gray, life’s been one hard kick in the teeth after another. With her parents both dead, her brother is her only living relative. That is until Vaughn’s truck is written off, his life snatched away by the careless actions of a rich playboy in a flashy sports car.

Now, the only thing that will bring Essie peace is revenge. She must take what was taken from her. Only when the name Callahan has been wiped from the face of the earth forever will she be able to start living again.

Of course, the new head of the Callahan Corporation isn’t what she expected. Aidan’s sexy and sad, and just as damaged as she is. Will she be able to distance herself enough to accomplish her goal?

After all, ruining a man’s really hard when you find yourself falling for him…




Review
4 Stars



Let me start by saying I have never before heard of this author, or read anything by him before. But when the author gave me the chance to read an ARC of the book I took the chance. The synopsis sounded interesting enough and I wanted to see if a guy could write a convincing romance novel.

He can certainly write a very "engaging" sex scene.....whew! HOT! But romance, we didn't get so much of that. And I'm just going to say that is because we were getting a lot of story set up that needed to be told so we would know how we got to where we are. The story is strong, believable, definitely HOT, and I really like Aidan's character. I became so tied into the story that I was bummed when I turned the page to a cliffhanger! But kudos to the author on his first attempt at contemporary romance, can't wait to read the next book in this series!!

***ARC provided by author for honest review (release date 8/18/2015)

Friday, March 13, 2015

Nalini Singh - Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2)

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.






*** {3.5 stars} ***

This can be read as a standalone, you don’t really need to have read the first 2 to understand the story of Gabriel and Charlotte. Charlotte is Molly’s best friend, who we met in the first Rock Kiss series book, but the stories don’t link enough to leave you feeling like you missed anything.

I liked this story, liked it… didn’t love it. For me it was slow starting and (I hate to say it) but seemed a “little been there done that”. Nothing jumped out at me as “special” or outwardly exciting. Controlling Alpha business man hires a quiet “mousy” assistant. They each bring something out in each other and their relationship grows from there. There is some drama for both of them that they must overcome, and Charlotte has some really horrible experiences from her past to overcome. There are some really funny moments in the book, and while I did enjoy the characters, I am not in love with either of them.



EXCERPT
Charlotte arrived at work at seven thirty the next morning to find Gabriel Bishop’s office door open, but no carnivorous predator inside. A fresh suit was hanging on the back of his door, however, which meant he’d been in already.
Deciding to catch up on e-mails that had come in overnight from international suppliers as well as stores involved in a stock take, she was typing a reply when a sweaty Gabriel arrived fifteen minutes later. He was dressed in black running shorts and a faded University of Auckland T-shirt that was currently sticking to his body.
She’d known he was in shape, but now she realized none of it was an illusion created by his well-cut suits. Okay, she’d already known that, but seeing his muscled body in the flesh was a whole different ball game. He was built like a tank, hard and powerful.
Each of his thighs was thicker than both of hers put together, his biceps toned, his shoulders appearing even wider than usual. Everything about him was big. Civilized clothing didn’t make him look better, she realized—it toned down his intense masculinity. Out of his suits, with the ink on the upper part of his left arm exposed, as well as that on his opposing thigh and…
Her skin hot and lower body clenching, she just nodded in response to his “Good morning.”
Disappearing into his office, he returned with his suit pants and a fresh shirt slung over his arm, along with a sports bag. “Push the meeting with Sales to nine, will you, Ms. Baird? I need to talk to HR about something before then.”
“Yes, sir,” Charlotte said almost soundlessly, but he was already gone, heading toward the employee shower one floor down.
The thigh tattoo went all the way around, the design intricate.
Heart rate a rapid stutter, Charlotte got up after he disappeared and decided to go grab him a coffee. He’d bought her one yesterday after all. She was just being nice. “Oh, shut up, Charlotte,” she muttered once she was in the elevator, and slumped her face into an upraised hand.
The truth was she was running away. Only for a few minutes, but that’s what this was: strategic retreat. Gabriel Bishop was overwhelming. Once, before she’d ever met him and under the influence of cocktails, she’d told Molly she wanted to rip off his shirt and sink her teeth into his pecs.
That desire hadn’t waned even now that she knew he was a T-Rex. Of course, the desire was all strictly in her imagination. The idea of actually handling him in real life? So impossible as to be laughable. Charlie-mouse was not about to play with a predator who could eat her alive and not even notice the bones. The good news was that she could admire him in relative safety—there was no chance in hell he’d ever notice her as a woman.
Getting the coffee from a nearby cafĂ©, she took it back upstairs. He was in his office when she entered, the striped dark gray of his tie hanging around his neck and his damp hair roughly combed. The scent of clean, fresh soap over warm skin permeated the office. Shooting her a smile that turned him from gorgeous to flat-out devastating, he flipped up the collar of his white shirt to get the tie in place. “Thank you, Ms. Baird.”
Nodding, Charlotte escaped, though she really wanted to stay. She’d never realized how erotic it was to watch a man dress until this precise moment. And she shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her boss—especially since she couldn’t keep from quivering like a rabbit in his presence. Sometimes she just annoyed herself.
“Get to work,” she muttered and knuckled down.
Gabriel was fine for the first hour, but then he began barking orders even a six-armed woman with a split personality would have had trouble handling.
Finally, pushed to the edge, Charlotte snapped. “I’m going as fast as I can!” she yelled when he asked her for something a minute after he’d asked her to complete another task.
He scowled and held out a file. “This is a priority.”
Grabbing it from his hand, she said, “Fine,” and slapped it down on her desk.
It was over an hour later that he disappeared for ten minutes. When he returned, it was to put a small bakery box on her desk. “I think you need something to sweeten your mood today, Ms. Baird.”
What she needed was for the T-Rex who was her boss to stop snarling and growling, she thought as he returned to his office. Not opening the box until her curiosity had almost killed her, she found it held a slice of decadent chocolate cake with a white-chocolate ganache topped with curls of both white and milk chocolate. “I cannot be bribed with cake,” she muttered, eating a bite nonetheless.

Full two-chapter excerpt available on Nalini’s Website: http://nalinisingh.com/rockhard.php



NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars (and one gorgeous ex-rugby player). If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don't forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.


STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Joanna Wylde - Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1)

First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels

Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward--full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That's when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he'd violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She's been terrified of him ever since, but she's even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from... But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She's living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can't ignore. She has to go back, and there's only one man she can trust to go with her--the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it'll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants...


Review
5 Stars

Joanna Wylde can do no wrong in my world. Another fantastic, super hot, MC series! Puck and Painter (Reaper's MC) just got out of prison. So to celebrate another club throws a party where Puck spots Becca. Not knowing her story, he just knows that he wants her. But the morning after brings many things to light and Puck takes her away. He saves her, bringing her to Callup where his MC is, but then leaves her with some friends of the MC as her new "foster" parents. Then he waits.......for 5 years. Watching her, protecting her, making sure she was happy and healthy. Then he just can't take it anymore and he makes his move. 

Becca has been learning to live as a "normal" person in Callup. Being raised and cared for by two wonderful people who took care of her like she was their own. She starts school, gets a job, her own place, and is making friends. And the nightmares from her past start to subside, but her mom starts calling wanting money. So the drama begins again. She needs Puck more than ever now, they just need to get over the past and admit their future is with each other.  

The push-pull of the two of them is chaotic, sexy, laugh out loud, and I loved it. I don't want to spoil any of the details. But what a great start to a new series, I think the residents of Silver Valley are going to be a great addition to the Wylde Library. We get to see a couple of Reaper's MC favorites mixed in and I can't wait for Painter and Melainie's story. It sounds like it's going to be one drama filled, Hot, story! 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Tiffany Reisz - The Virgin (Original Sinners, White Years #3)

The controversial story before the story continues in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series The Original Sinners.

For years, Kingsley Edge warned Eleanor the day would come when she, the mistress of a well-respected Catholic priest, would have to run and hide. She always imagined if that day came she'd be running away with Søren. But instead, she's running from him.

Knowing Søren and Kingsley will their use their influence to bring her back, Eleanor alone, penniless and scared takes refuge at the one place the men in her life cannot follow: the abbey where her mother has taken orders. Behind the cloistered gates of the convent, Eleanor hides from the man she loves and hates in equal measure

She cannot, however, hide from her true nature. When Eleanor befriends a young virginal nun, she faces a startling sexual awakening. But Eleanor can't stay forever, and the lure of her real life beckons beyond the locked gates. But to follow her fate means to leave Kyrie behind, a sacrifice Eleanor refuses to make

The lure of the forbidden. The temptation to sin. The price of passion has never been higher, and Eleanor will have to pay it if she ever wants to go home again.

Release Date 3/31/2015


Review
5 Stars

Wow... Mistress Reisz never ceases to amaze me. The synopsis does this story justice, it gives you the base storyline. But it's about the beginning of Mistress Nora and equally the beginning of Kingsley. (If you remember from previous books that Eleanor and Kingsley left for a year). Now we get every detail of that time in their history. And who they had become when they came out the other side of that journey. And a journey it was. How Eleanor became a writer and Mistress Nora became the most adored Dominatrix in history. How Kingsley found what he needed to balance out his life with Elle/Soren. How all 3 had to make this journey to become who they are now. And while we are getting this little walk thru history, our 3 "sinners" are in Scotland for a wedding.......

Monday, March 9, 2015

Aurora Rose Reynolds - Until July (Until Her #1)



Meet Wes & July in Until July! 
Until July is book one in the spin-off series Until Her!
Add to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/1wZby4T
RELEASE DATE:  April 13th

Wes Silver wasn’t looking for love, but when July Mayson literally knocks him on his ass during their first encounter, his world is turned upside down by the quirky blonde, and every moment with her makes him more determined to protect her.

July Mayson doesn’t understand the pull she feels toward the bad boy biker Wes Silver, but she knows being with him is like nothing she’s ever felt before. Now all she has to do is tell her overprotective father, Asher Mayson, that she’s found her boom.



Excerpt

“What the fuck is wrong with you.” 

The guy that was at the head of the group asks stepping in front of my bike.
I shake my head as words are lodged in my throat.
He pulls me off my bike and the men who are with him begin yelling obscenities as well.

“Sorry.” 

I croak out and I don’t even know if he hears me his hand goes to the collar of my leather jacket and he shakes me hard and my hand accidentally presses down on the button for the Taser to ignite it. The loud crack fills the air and his eyes go wide then he falls to the ground and I fall on my ass and crab walk backwards then look up when I hit something only to meet the eyes of another man who looks pissed.

“Get up.”

He growls picking me up my feet flail under me as I’m lifted off the ground with my hands restrained behind my back.

“Hold him still.” 

The guy who I had Tazered growls in front of me as I try to get away from the anger I feel coming off him.  His hands go to my head and he rips my helmet off causing my hair to float down around me.
Complete silence descends I swear no one even takes a breath.

“Um.” I bite my lip 



Until November (Book One) Until Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1k2XK31


Until Trevor (Book Two) Until Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1iWBUQK


Until Lilly (Book Three) Until Series
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1pzOdYk


Until Nico (Book Four) Until Series



Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who's husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She's married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it's beauty.
Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/1pzLVIO


THANK YOU!










Monday, March 2, 2015

Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain - Hell's Kitchen (Hell's Kitchen #1)

*From International Bestselling authors Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain comes a tale of two families co-existing in a melting pot of violence, murder and drugs in the seedy underbelly of New York City*

Hell’s Kitchen

Theo and Sal Barbieri are brothers, tasked by their Mafioso father Roberto with a very clear purpose: kidnap Kaitlin McLaughlin. The beautiful daughter of Roberto’s Irish enemy. It’s high time Kaitlin was punished for her father’s sins—not to mention, her own.

And Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin is a roaring success… until it isn’t. When Kaitlin escapes into the busy streets of New York City, it’s a race against the clock to find her before Sal and Theo become the hunted.

Zeth Mayfair has traded his life as a hitman for a quieter existence, but it isn’t long before the past catches up with him in the form of Roberto Barbieri. Will he succumb to the lure of power that Roberto is offering? Or will he retaliate by killing every last Barbieri in New York to get them off his back?

Jason Ross is running. Woken in the night by a tip that the Gypsy Brothers are coming for him, he packs a bag and gets his girlfriend the hell out of dodge. Arriving in New York City in the midst of a heatwave is one thing, but being tailed by an entire drug cartel is another.

Worlds collide in Hell’s Kitchen as secrets come to light and sins are punished. Because we might be different in the light of day, but in the darkness, we’re all connected somehow.

Hell’s Kitchen is a serial comprising three volumes: Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleecker Street. Volume One releases on March 3rd with a limited-time sale price of 99 cents.



Review
5+ stars


Wow, I was already in love with Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain. But now I want to just fall at their feet and worship them. Both of their writing styles blend perfectly to bring characters from our 2 favorite series together with some new ones to form a perfect story. It's funny, sarcastic, sexy, and as always a little violence thrown in like extra seasoning.

We get to catch up with Zeth and Sloan, Jase and Juliette, and I'm very fascinated with the Barbieri brothers Theo and Sal. They are funny, hot, and a little on the "I just screwed up" side of life that had me laughing out loud. We get the hot sex that we are so familiar with, Zeth/Sloan, and Jase/Juliette, so I'm looking forward to see how the Barbieri brothers are going to "perform". The "job" the Barbieri brothers was assigned by their father has gone horribly wrong, and it looks like they may be on a one way track for a dirt nap if they can't pull it all back together. But a couple of women aren't making it easy for the brothers to complete their task. Oh...the best laid plans. Amazing story, can't wait for the next one!!

***ARC provided for honest review

Amazon http://amzn.to/1AxmIho 
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/GoodreadsHK
Sign up to the Hell's Kitchen newsletter: http://eepurl.com/beYVNr



Excerpt

“When he lunges for me, I’m ready. I deflect the hand he was going to grab me with, slapping it downward, and then I grab onto his wrist, pulling him off balance. He seesaws forward but then rips his wrist out of my hand. I don’t expect him to turn his slight fumble to his own advantage, but he does. Dropping to the floor, he rolls and kicks out, landing a solid strike to my leg. I have less than a second to brace myself before I’m hitting the concrete.

Then he’s on top of me. “Oh, this is fun, sweetheart. But I don’t really have time to be playing games with you right now.”

He’s reaching for my arms, about to pin me to the ground, but I jab, landing a solid hit with my extended fingertips right in the base of his throat, in his windpipe. He chokes, his body falling sideways, and then I’m on top of him. Through watering eyes and a clearly sore throat, the guy grins up at me, shaking his head. “Well, if you wanna fuck me, I guess I could make some time.” Thrusting upward, he tries to unseat me, but I know this is what’s coming and I’m ready again. I compensate, leaning forward, pressing my gun into the guy’s neck.

“Who are you?”

His body goes still, his hands lifting so they’re palm up in front of him. “You know who I am, sweetheart. I’m the enemy.”

“My boss has quite a few enemy camps. Which one do you belong to?”

“The biggest one,” the guy says, smiling. “The Italian one.”

“So you work for Barbieri?”

“I am a Barbieri.”

Lightning fast, he snaps his hand out and clamps it around my throat. The move catches me off guard, has me panicking for the first time. My gun is gone, then, knocked to the ground, skittering away across the blacktop. The guy’s hand tightens around the column of my neck, threatening to squeeze even harder. “What’s wrong?” he asks. “Feeling a little lightheaded?”



Thursday, February 19, 2015

Aurora Rose Reynolds - Obligation (Underground Kings series)

This is a standalone by an author who believes in love at first sight.

[ob-li-gey-shuh n]
An obligation is a course of action that someone is required to take, whether legal or moral.

At six years old, Myla was sent to a family her father and mother had chosen for her when they knew their time on earth was almost up. What they were unaware of was what they thought would be her safe haven would become her living hell.

Kai has been watching Myla from afar since he took over the family business from his father and inherited the responsibility of keeping her safe. When word gets back to Kai that Myla is not only in danger, but that his assets are being compromised, he immediately jumps into action and does the only thing that can be done at the time by marrying her.

Neither Myla nor Kai would have thought that something that started off as a farce would become the most important thing either of them could've ever done.

Please be aware that the content of this book may be difficult for some readers.
(18 and over due to sexual content and language.)



***{5 stars}***

***ARC provided by TRSOR for honest review (Release date Feb. 11, 2015)

I was a little confused at first. Even though the books in this series are stand alones, there is always one small aspect that ties them together. So I kept looking for the "link" that would help me remember who Kai was. Then I realized I just didn't care, Kai is HOT and the story itself doesn't need any explaining or "ties" to another book. So I just sat back and read one of the best love stories ever. Marrying Myla to protect her was the best thing he could have done for both of them. As with all love stories there is usually some drama, suspense, sometimes a murder or two, and a happily ever after. But we also get the two of them, the fact that he has known her since he was ten and knew from the first look that he was meant to protect and love her was the best hook ever. And it may seem like Myla went along with it all a little too easily, but if you had a husband as hot as Kai, I would have held on to that for as long as possible, even if it was supposed to be fake. I hope we see more of Kai and Myla in the future.


***Excerpt*** 

“Everyone is looking for you.”

I turn my head, pulling my hair out of my face as I watch a boy I’ve never seen before climb up the stairs and into my tree house.

“Who are you?” I ask him as he sits across from me.

“Kai,” he smiles, looking around. He looks a lot different than the other kids I know. His hair is long, and his skin is a lot darker than mine. “Why are you hiding?”

I shrug and look away from him. Daddy was yelling earlier; he was so mad that he was turning red. Then Mommy started crying, and Daddy started yelling louder. I heard Mommy telling Daddy that he had to send me away. I don’t want to go away. I try to be good, but sometimes, I forget to listen.

“Why are you crying?”

I look up at him and wipe my face. “I’m scared,” I whisper, wiping my nose.

“Come on. I’ll protect you,” he says, holding his hand out to me.

Then my mommy calls my name again. I look at his hand, move Mr. Bear under my arm, and put my hand in his.

“Myla!” Mommy yells, running towards me.

I can tell she has been crying again.

“Where did you go?” Her hands grab my shoulders and she shakes me hard.

“It’s my fault. I asked her to show me the tree house,” Kai tells her.

She stops shaking me then looks at him. “You shouldn’t have done that. You knew we were looking for her,” she says angrily her head.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” Kai says softly, putting his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground.

I look back at Mommy, and she shakes her head before grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. When I look over my shoulder at Kai, he smiles, making me smile back.






About the Author:


Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who's husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She's married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it's beauty.


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